Game of skill



Feb. 26, 1.935.

| w. GENSBURG GAME OF SKILL Filed April 3, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 N MN m3 a GM m Om Ow .lozzzs Waenszufy INVENTOR Feb. 26, 1935. w. GENSBURG' GAME OF SKILL Filed April s, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- I 17 Claim.

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in a game of skill. 4

An object of this invention is to provide in a game of skill a game apparatus embodying a novel mechanism for registering 'and' totalizing the scores of the balls played.

Another object of the invention is to provide game apparatus embodying a novel mechanism for preventing unauthorized play of the balls.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a game apparatus a novel device for elevatin the balls one at a time from the ball magazine to the ramp or playing surface.

Additional objects of the invention are: -To provide a novel game apparatus including the combination of a playing board having ball exit openings therein; inclined runways below, and each in communication with,.a preselected group of said runways; a score registering devicearranged at a point in each of said runways and including a rotatable counting dial operable by a ball traveling therealong; and to provide resetting means for said counting dials and a common control for said resetting means. I Another object of the invention is to provide the game apparatus hereinafter described and claimed. I

Other objects will appear as the description of the-new game apparatus proceeds.

In the-drawings: Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing the cabinet and game board or playing surface of the new game apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectionalview of the new game apparatus on line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the new'game apparatus showing the rimways and operating mechanisms;

'Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional detail view of the new game apparatus, taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view online 5-5 in Fig. 4, showing one of the new score registering and totaling devices;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view on line 6-6 in Fig. 2 showing the ball magazine and mechanism associated therewith for preventing unauthorized play of the balls; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail view on line 'I-'l in Fig. 3, showing the ball elevating apparatus.

The new game apparatus includes a cabinet, .generally indicated at 10 and including an inclined game board or playing surface 11 arranged below the transparent top. 12 of the cabinet 10. Provided in the game board 11 are ball exit open,

ings or scoring holes 13 and a free play ball exit opening 14.

Arranged upon the game board 11, the design of which forms the subject matter of my copending U. S. design application} Serial No. D -4'L546, filed March 22, 1933, now patent No. D-90,281, dated July 11,1933, is a curvilinear ramp 15 around which the playing balls 18 are projected one at a time by a ball-projecting gun or plunger 16; the ramp 15 opening at one end (Fig. 1) onto the playing surface 11. Pins 17 are arranged upon the playing surface 11 according to a preselected scheme to increase the ball scoring hazard.

Arranged below the playing surface 11 isa series of inclined ball runways 19 (Figs. 2 and 3), each of which communicates with a preselected number and group of the ball exit scoring holes or openings 13.

Arranged at the lower end of each ball runway- 19 is a rotatable score registering and totalizing device. Each of these score registering and totalizing devices is generally indicated at 20 and includes adrum or counting dial 21 that is operable by a ball traveling along the corresponding runway 19. Each of these drums or dials 21 has a dial 21, and arranged at radial intervals theroaround, is a series of projecting elements or vanes 26 (Figs. 3 and 5). There is arranged adjacent the lower end of each runway 19 a ball deflecting member 2'! (Fig.3). In playing this game apparatus a ball falling through one of the ball exit scoring openings 13 passes into the corresponding runway 19 and, traveling by gravity to the lower end of the latter, isdeflected by-one'of the members 2'7 against and onto the projecting elements or vanes 26 of the corresponding registering device 20. The weight of the ball 18 then acts by gravity to step or rotate the corresponding drum or dial- (clockwise, Fig. 2, counterclockwise, Fig. 4) a distance equal to the peripheral distance between two projecting elements'or vanes 26. The registering sheets 23 are numbered with indicia which increase numerically (clockwise, Fig. 4) so that as successive balls score and run clown the runways 19 and revolve the registering drums 21 the indicia on the sheets 23 totalize the scores made in the several runways for each coin inserted into the coin control device, which is generally indicated at 28. The scoring indicia on each counting dial sheet 23 are visible through the sight openings 25; and there are as many plays allowed for each coin inserted into the coin control device 28 as there are projecting elements or vanes 26 on each counting drum or dial 21.

The registeringdrums or counting dials 21 float, that is, are rotatably mounted on, a common shaft 29 which extends transversely of the playing surface 11 below the latter. Associated with the counting dials or drums 21 on the shaft 29 for resetting the counting dials to zero position are register resetting coil springs 30 (Fig. 5). Each of these coil springs 30 has one end attached to the shaft 29 and its other end attached to the corresponding counting dial or drum 21. Each time a played ball 18, passing down a runway 19, engages the vanes 26 on a registering drum or counting dial 21 and steps the latter (clockwise, Fig. 2, counterclockwise, Fig. 4), it tensions the corresponding register resetting spring 30. Retroactive movement of the drums 21 (clockwise, Fig. 4) is prevented by a series of dogs 31 (Figs. 3, 4, and 5) which are mounted on a common shaft 32. These dogs are guided in slots 69 formed in plates 68 that are attached to the underside of the playing board 11 (Fig. 5).

The played balls 18, after registering their scores by rotating the counting dials or drums 21, in the aforementioned manner, drop into an inclined chute 33 which leads to a ball magazine 34. This ball magazine 34 is in turn inclined toward, and communicates at its lower end (Figs. 6 and 7) with, a ball elevator groove 35 that is formed in a wall 36 of the cabinet 10 (Fig. 6)

jecting plunger 16.

The ball elevating mechanism comprises a member 37 (Fig. 7) that is pivotally mounted at 38 on the wall 36 of the cabinet 10. This member 37 has at its lower end a flange providing a ball seat 39 (Fig. 6) which works in the groove 35. The elevating member 37 is operated by a plunger 40 which the player pushes (to the left, Fig. 7) to pivot the elevator 37 (clockwise, Fig. 7) each time aball is released from the magazine 34 and drops onto the ball seat 39 which is formed on the lower end of the elevator 37. This movement of the elevator 37 (clockwise, Fig. 7) carries the ball up the groove 35. to the ramp 15 and in front of the plunger 16. The upper end 40 of the groove 35 is curved or rounded inwardly toward the ramp 15, as represented by the shading in Fig. 7, so that as the ball seat 39 reaches the top of the groove 35 the ball is dumped off the ball seat 39 into the ramp 15, whereupon the elevator drops by gravity to its initial position (full lines, Fig. 7).

Mounted on the underside of the game board 11 is a rock shaft 42 which has a depending arm 43 that is arranged for engagement with the inner end of-the slide bar 41 of the coin control mechanism 28. When a coin is inserted into the coin control device 28, the said slide bar 41 thereof is pushed inwardly by the player (to the left, Fig. 4) whereupon the inner end of the slide bar 41 engages the arm 43 of the rock shaft 42. This movement of the slide bar 41 rocks the shaft 42 (clockwise, Fig. 4) and lifts an extension or arm 44 of the rock shaft above and out of bear ing engagement with a. bar 45 that controls the operation of all the dogs 31 and through them all This elevator groove 35 opens at its upper end (Fig. 7) into the ramp 15, infront of the gun or ball prothe register resetting springs 30. This control bar 45 is U-shapecl (Fig. 3) and its end portions 46 are pivotallly mounted on the shaft 32. The reset control bar 45 extends transversely across the game board 11 below the latter and under the dogs 31 (Figs. 3 and 4), and normally the arm 44 of the rock shaft 42 bears downwardly on the reset control bar 45 and keeps the latter out of engagement with the dogs 31. However,

when the slide bar 41 is slid inwardly (to the left,

Fig. 4) its inner end engages the arm 43 of the rock shaft 42 and rotates the latter (clockwise, Fig. 4), thereby lifting the arm 44 of the rock shaft out of bearing engagement with and above the register reset control bar 45, whereupon a tensioned spring 47 (Fig. 4) attached to the reset control bar 45 rotates the latter (clockwise, Fig. 4) into engagement with the dogs 31; thus pivoting all the dogs 31 (clockwise, Fig. 4) simultaneously out of engagement with the projecting elements or vanes 26 of the registering devices 20. This frees the counting dials or drums 21, and the tensioned resetting springs 30 associated therewith thereupon rotate or reset the drums 21 (clockwise, Fig. 4, counterclockwise, Fig. 2) back to their initial position, in which position the zero 0 marks on the score or totalizer sheets 23 appear through the sight openings 25 formed in the playing surface 11. The counting dials or 'drums 21 are stopped, at the end of their rota- 22, so as to engage the stop lugs 67, there being a stop lug 67 formed on an arm 22 of each dial 21.

When the player releases the coin control slide bar 41, a tensionedspring 48 attached to the rock shaft 42 (Fig. 2) rotates the rock shaft (counterclockwise, Fig. 4). This brings the arm 44 of the rock shaft down into bearing engagement'with the reset control bar- 45 and pivots the latter (counterclockwise, Fig. 4) against the action of spring 47, out of engagement with the dogs 31; whereupon the dogs 31 fall by gravity into engagement with the vanes or projecting elements 26 of the registering drums 21. I This game apparatus includes means, presently to be described, and operable by the slide bar 41 and rock shaft 42, for preventing unauthorized withdrawal of the playing balls 18 from the ball magazine 34 to the ball elevator 3739.

To this end there is slidably mounted on the top wall 53 of the ball magazine 34 (Figs. 2 and 6) a slide bar 49 which has at one end a depending extension 50 that acts as a ball stop. This stop portion 50 projects into the magazine 34 through, and works in, a slot 51 formed in the magazine 34 (Figs. 2 and 6) The slide bar 49 has at its other end an upright portion 62 and attached to this portion 62 of the bar 49 is a spring 52 (Fig. 2).

Pivotally mounted between its ends on the top wall 53 of the ball magazine, as at 54 (Fig. 6) is a lever 55 (Figs, 2 and 6) This lever 55 has at one end adepending extension or stop arm 57 and. it

has at its other end a raised portion 58 (Figs. 2

and 6). This depending stop portion 57 of the lever 55 works across the lower end or outlet 59 of vthe ball magazine 34 and when in effective position (as in dotted lines, Fig. 6) it prevents the discharge of the balls 18 from the ball magazine 34 onto the ball seat 39 of the ball elevator 37. Attached to the raised portion 58 of the lever 55 is a spring 60.

which is arranged for'engagement with'the upright end portion 62 of the slide bar 49. When the coin slide bar 41 is pushed inwardly (to/the left, Fig. 4), it engages the arm 43 of the rock shaft 4 2, rotating the latter counterclockwise, Fig.

2. This movement of the rock shaft 42 first moves the arm 63 thereof away from the raised end portion 58 of lever 55, whereupon the spring 60 pivots the lever 55 (clockwise, Fig. 6) into dotted line position (Fig. 6) and in this position the end portion 57 of the lever 55 projects across and closes the lower end or outlet 59 of the ball magazine 34. Further movement of the rock shaft 42 causes the arm 61 thereof to engage the end portion 62 of the bar 49, thereby moving the bar 49 and its stop portion 50 (to the right, Fig. 2, toward the top of the sheet, Fig. 6). This movement of the bar 49 and its stop portion 50 releases the playing balls 18 and allows them to drop down the magazine 34 into engagement with the stop arm 57 of the lever 55. However, since the balls 16 are released (by the coaction of the coin slide bar 41 and rock shaft 42) from engagementwith the stop portion 50 of slide bar 49 after the stop arm 57 has been moved to close the lower end or outlet 59 of the ball magazine, it will be noted that unauthorized play of the balls 18 is prevented. In other words, the balls 18 cannot be continuously played by holding the coin slide bar 41 pressed in or by otherwise manipulating the same after inserting a coin into the coin control device 28. This is because of the fact that inward movement of the coin slide bar 41 cooperates with the rock shaft 42 and lever 55 to close the outlet 59 of the ball magazine 34, which is normally kept closed by the action of the spring 60 on the lever 55; so that in order to open the outlet 59 of the ball magazine 34 the coin slide bar 41 must be fully released by the operator. This is so because of the fact that not until the coin slide bar 41 is fully-released can the tensioned spring 48' act through the rock shaft 42 and its arm 63 to move the lever 55 and its stop portion '7 (counterclockwise, Fig. 6) so as to open theoutlet 59 of the ball magazine 34. Thus, this mechanism eifectively controls the discharge of the balls from the ball magazine to the elevator seat 39 and in so doing prevents continuous or unauthorized play of the balls, called milking, in'the parlance of the trade. After the balls 18 are discharged past the stop 50 into the lower end portion of the magazine 34 they are fed one at a time onto the ball seat 39 of the ball by manipulating the latter.

" A chute 64 leads from the free play opening the ball magazine through the outlet 59 thereof onto the ballseat 39 of the ball elevator 37.

I claim: M v 1. In a game" apparatus, the combination of a cabinet including an inclined playing board having ball exit openings formed therein; a series of inclined runways below said openings and each elevator 37* in communication with a preselected group of said openings; and a scoreregistering device in thecabinet including a rotatable counting dial arranged at a point in each of said runways adjacent the lower end' thereof and operable by a ball traveling therealong.

2. In a game apparatus, the combination of a cabinet including a playing board inclined slightly from the horizontal and having a sight opening and ball exit openings formed therein between its upper and lower ends; an inclined runway below and in communication with said exit openings;

and a score registering device in the cabinet including a rotatable counting dial arranged at a point in said runway adjacent the lower end thereof and operable by balls traveling there-. along; said dial having scoring indicia thereon visible through said sight opening.

3. In a game apparatus, the combination of a cabinet including a playing board inclined slightly from the horizontal and having ball exit openings and sight openings formed therein between its upper and lower ends; a series of inclined runways arranged below said playing board and each in communication with a preselected group of said ball exit openings; and a score registering device in the cabinet including a rotatable counting dial arranged at a point in each of said runways adjacent the lower end thereof and operable by balls traveling therealong; each of said dials having scoring indicia thereon and said indicia, being visible through said sight openings.

4. -In a game apparatus, the combination of a cabinet including a playing board inclined slightly from the horizontal and having ball exit openings and a sight opening formed therein between its upper and lower ends; an inclined runway arranged below and in communication with said ball exit openings; a score registering device in the cabinet including a rotatable counting dial arranged at a point in said runway adjacent the lower end thereof and intermittently rotatable in one direction by balls traveling therealong; and spring resetting means for the said counting dial tensioned by and resisting the said intermittent rotation of the said dial; said dial having scoring indicia thereon visible through said sight opening.

5. In a game apparatus, the combination of a cabinet including a playing board inclined slightly from the horizontal and having ball exit openings and sight openings formed therein between its upper and lower ends; a series of inclined runways below said openings and each in communication with a preselected group of said ball exit openings; a score registering device in the cabinet including a rotatable countnig dial arranged at a point in each of said runways adjacent the lower end thereof and intermittently rotatable by balls traveling therealong; and spring resetting means for saiddials tensioned by and resisting the said intermittent rotation of said dials; each of said dials having, scoring indicia thereon and 'siIeid indicia being visible through said sight open- 6. In a game apparatus, the combination of a member providing a playing surface slightly inclined from the horizontal and having ball exit openings formed therein between its upper and lower ends; a series of inclined runways arranged below and each .in communication with a preselected group of said ball exit openings; a score registering device including a rotatable counting dial arranged at a point in each of said runways and intermittently rotatable by balls traveling therealong; a spring resetting means for each of saidcounting dials tensioned by and resisting said intermittent movement thereof; and a common control means for all of said resetting means; said member having sight openings formed therein between its upper and lower ends; each of said dials having scoring indicia thereon, and said indicia being visible through said sight openings.

7. A game apparatus including a cabinet having an inclined playing board over which balls are adapted to travel; said board having ball exit openings therein; an inclined ball return runway arranged below the board in communication with said exit openings; a registering device in the cabinet including a rotatable score bearing dial arranged in the runway adjacent the lower end thereof and having means adapted to be engaged successively by said balls for imparting rotation to said dial; spring means for resetting said dial and for resisting said rotation of said dial by said balls; and means for controlling the operation of said resetting means; said controlling means including a pivotal reset control bar, a rock shaft controlling said bar, and a slide bar controlling said rock shaft and arranged below said board.

8. A game apparatus including a cabinet having an inclined playing board over which balls are adapted to travel; said board having ball exit openings therein; an inclined ball return runway arranged below the board in communication with said runways; a registering device in the cabinet including a rotatable score bearing dial arranged in the runway adjacent the lower end thereof; spring resetting means for rotating said dial in one direction; said dial having means adapted to be engaged successively by balls for imparting rotation to said dial against the action of said spring resetting means; and means for controlling the operation of said resetting means; said controlling means including the following parts: a pivotal dog for holding the dial against the 'action of said resetting means; a movable reset control bar for'controlling the operation of said dog; a rock shaft controlling said reset control bar; and a slide bar controlling the said rock shaft and arranged below said board.

9. A game apparatus comprising the combination of a cabinet including aplaying board slightly inclined from the horizontal and having ball exit openings formed therein; an inclined runway below said board and having communication with said openings; a ball-receiving magazine having communication with said runway; a score registering device in the cabinet including a rotatable counting dial arranged in the said runway in the path of balls traveling from said runway to said magazine and operable by said .balls; spring means for resetting said dial; and means for controlling the operation of said resetting means; said controlling means including a slide bar slidable in a substantially horizontal plane below said playing board.

10. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a cabinet including playing board having a playing surface inclined slightly from the horizontal and having ball exit openings formed therein between its upper and lower ends; an inclined ball return runway arranged below said board and having communication with said ball exit openings; said board having a sight opening formed therein between its upper and lower ends and between its lower end and said ball exi-t openings; and a score registering device in the cabinet including a rotatable counting dial arranged in the runway below said board and visible through said sight opening; said dial being arranged at a point in said runway adjacent the lower end thereof and being operable by a ball traveling therealong.

11. In a game apparatus: a member providing a playing surface inclined slightly from the horizontal and having a row of sight openings formed therein extending transversely across the playing surface between its upper and lower ends; said member having ball exit scoring openings formed therein; a series of inclined ball return runways arranged below said playing surface and in communication with said ball exit openings; and a score registering device including a row of rotatable score registering dials arranged in spaced relationship to each other in said row of the same and said second-named row extending transversely across said playing surface therebelow and parallel to said row of sight openings; said dials being operable by balls traveling along said runways and bearing scoring indicia visible through said sight openings.

' 12. A game apparatus, comprising the combination of: a playing board having a playing surface slightly inclined from the horizontal and having ball exit openings and a sight opening formed therein between its upper and lower ends; an inclined ball return runway below said playing board and having communication with said ball exit openings; a ball-receiving magazine having communication with said runway; a score registering device including a rotatable counting dial arranged between the said runway and the said magazine and operable by balls traveling from the runway to the magazine, said dial having scoring indicia visible through said sight opening; spring means for resetting said dial; means for controlling the operation of said resetting means including a slide bar arranged below said playing board; means for elevating the balls from the ball magazine to the playing surface; and means for controlling the operation of said ball elevating means including a slidable member arranged below said playing board.

13. In a game apparatus, a member having a ball playing surface; said playing surface extending in a continuous plane from end to end thereof, and said plane being inclined slightly from the horizontal; said member having ball exit openings and a sight opening formed therein between its upper and lower ends; an inclined ball return runway arranged below said playing surface and having communication with said ball exit openings; and a score registering device including a rotatable counting dial arranged at a point in said runway for operation by balls traveling therealong; said dial having scoring indicia thereon and said indicia being visible through said sight opening.

. 14. In a game apparatus, a member having a ball playing surface; said playing surface extending in a single continuous plane from end to end balls traveling therealong and having scoring indicia visible through said sight openings.

board having ball exit openings formed at pre-'- selected points therein between its upper and lower ends; said playing board having sight openings formed therein between its lower end and said ball exit openings; a propelling device arranged at the lower end of the playing board for projecting balls thereover toward the upper end of the playing board so that'the spent balls may gravitate back over the playing board toward the lower end thereof and into the ball exit openings; ball operated score registering devices arranged below the playing board between the 'lower end thereof and the ball exit openings; said registering devices-having score-indicating indicia thereon visible through said sight openings; ball return runways arranged below the playing board for returning the balls by gravity from the ball exit openings into operative engagement with said score registering devices; and means for returning the played balls from the registering devices to the propelling device.

16. A game apparatus comprising the combination of: a playing board inclined slightly from the horizontal between its upper and lower ends; said board having ball exit openings formed at pre-selected points therein between its upper and lower ends; said playing board having sight openings formed therein between its lower end and said ball exit openings; a propelling device arranged at the lower end of the pl ying board for projecting balls thereover toward the 'upper end of the playing board so that the spent balls may gravitate back over the playing board toward the lower end thereof and into the ball exit openings; ball operated score registering de-' vices arranged below the playing board between the lower end thereof and the ball exit openings; said registering devices having score-indicating indicia thereon'visible through said sight openings; ball return runways arranged below the playing board for returning the balls by gravity from the ball exit openings into operative engagement with said score registering devices: said registering devices being arranged in a row extending transversely across said-playing board and one in communication with each of said runways; and means providing a common ball return route for returning the played balls from each and all of the registering devices to the propelling device.

1'1. A game comprising a box carrying an inclined playing field provided with holes having designated numerical values to receive balls projected over the held, a projector for the balls, a plurality of inclined alleys under the holes to receive the balls, and a counting mechanism comprising counter wheels in the box at the lower end of the alleys, said counter wheels having means to receive the balls from the alleys and register their values. 1

K LOUIS w. GENSBURG. 

